Of the 22 patients assessed, 21 presented with an overactive bladder combined with reduced bladder capacity and elevated detrusor filling pressures. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Noncompliance

  […] bladder Noncompliant neuropathic bladder Paraplegia (paralysis of legs) with neurogenic bladder Paraplegia with neurogenic bladder Quadriplegia with neurogenic bladder ICD-10-CM N31.9 is grouped within Diagnostic Related Group(s) (MS-DRG v 36.0): 698 [icd10data.com]

  As long-term sequelae of insufficiently treated neurogenic bladders (renal scarring, noncompliant fibrotic bladder) already have their origin in the first years of life, the frequency of multidisciplinary follow-up visits must be age dependent (3× yearly [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Plethora

  Although the idea was conceived in the 1950s, and a plethora of natural and synthetic biomaterial scaffolds has been used in experimental animals, their clinical application remains a formidable challenge.139 In a meta-analysis of 28 preclinical and two [dovepress.com]

• Xerostomia

  Anticholinergic drugs that bind M3 receptors might produce visual blurring, xerostomia, and constipation. Different routes of application have been used to reduce the side effects of oral anticholinergics. [dovepress.com]

• Hypertension

  If left untreated, the patient can have severe hypertension with systolic BP as high as 300mmHg and stroke, coma or death can occur. [ausmed.com]

  Patients with high thoracic or cervical spinal cord lesions are at risk of autonomic dysreflexia (a life-threatening syndrome of malignant hypertension, bradycardia or tachycardia, headache, piloerection, and sweating due to unregulated sympathetic hyperactivity [merckmanuals.com]

  […] children has increased more by the developed techniques in the brain and nerve surgeries and early coverage of meningeal defects and ventricular shunt operations and the reasons of death have slid over the urology complications such as pyelonephritis, hypertension [jpmrs.org]

• Excoriation

  The sheath is prone to loose or poor fitting, and skin excoriation and infection are other problems encountered. Although urethral catheterisation does provide effective bladder drainage it is not an ideal long term solution. [jnnp.bmj.com]

• Insomnia

  Side effects may include fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and insomnia. Surgery. In extreme cases, when incontinence is severe and other treatments have failed, surgery may be considered. [greenville-urology.com]

  Side effects may include fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and insomnia. Additional drugs are being evaluated for the treatment of overactive bladder and may soon receive FDA approval. Surgery. [michiganurology.com]

• Urinary Incontinence

  Further Reading What is Urinary Incontinence? Types of Urinary Incontinence Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis Urinary Incontinence Treatments Urinary Incontinence in Children [news-medical.net]

  Neurogenic bladder leading to urinary incontinence has been described in patients of stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and some schizophrenia cases with cognitive impairment possibly due to impaired cortical inhibition of the urinary bladder. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Urge Urinary Incontinence

  […] storage symptoms (frequency, urgency, urge urinary incontinence) are present in 57% to 83% of patients with IPD, and voiding symptoms (poor force of stream, hesitancy, incomplete emptying) are seen in 17% to 27% of this patient population.12 For most [ajmc.com]

In the work-up and management of neurogenic bladder, the following diagnostic modalities are used:

• Ultrasound of the kidney determines sign of obstruction and enlargement (hydronephrosis)
• Serum creatinine determination will show the extent of kidney damage
• Post void residual volume determination will predict the amount of urine retained in the bladder
• Cystoscopy is the direct examination of the bladder using a flexible cystoscope via the urethra
• Cytometrography will demonstrate the pressure involved in the bladder

Medical management of neurogenic bladder includes the oral intake of bladder relaxants like oxybutynin, and tolterodine for the treatment of a spastic bladder. Botulinum toxins may be used with local infiltration to the bladder to reduce its spasticity [5]. Hyperactive bladders posing with limit urine capacity may benefit from bladder augmentation surgery [6].

Patients with difficulty initiating and sustaining urination may benefit with an indwelling catheter or an intermittent straight catheterization for easier voiding. A urinary bladder “pacemaker” may be implanted to automatically stimulate its nerves for functionality purposes.

The surgical repair of the sphincter and the sling muscle will improve incontinence issues. For permanent voiding access, a stoma (cystostomy) may be created from the abdomen to the bladder for better and hygienic voiding options. Some variant of cystostomy may have an ileal conduit for better quality of life in patients [7].

Prognosis in neurogenic bladder depends on the level of the nerve damage. The more central (near the brain) the damage the more complications are expected. Brain damage carries a grim outlook because it hampers hormonal control (antidiuretic hormones), regional nervous and muscle control (detrusor muscle, sphincter and the urinary bladder). Surgical methods for neurogenic bladder may give an excellent outlook for the patient.

Complications

Hydronephrosis or the hydrostatic enlargement of the kidneys occurs due to the return pressure exerted by the ureters to the kidney when free flow of urine to the bladder is impeded because of a chronic neurogenic bladder condition. Kidney enlargement may lead to renal failure if left untreated and can eventually lead to death. Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) may be experienced with vesico-urethral reflux because of sphincter hyperactivity with neurogenic bladders. The most common pathogen in UTI among neurogenic bladder patients are Escherichia coli, Entrococcus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [2]. The recurrent urinary tract infection is caused by the persistent stasis of urine in the bladder [3].

The constant urine leakage may cause pressure or bed sores to dependent parts of the skin especially in the back and in the buttocks. Patients with multiple sclerosis succumbs to the incontinent type of neurogenic bladder which are also associated with uterine prolapse among female patients [4].

Any disorder in the central nervous system that affects the brain and the lower body may lead to neurogenic bladder. The following etiology has been noted to amongst the most common:

• Spinal cord defect – birth defects like spina bifida
• Brain or spinal cord tumors
• Cerebral palsy
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Encephalitis (viral or bacterial)
• Severe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Trauma to the spinal cord
• Cerebrovascular disease (stroke)
• Metabolic neuropathy (Diabetic and alcoholic neuropathy)
• Illicit drug use like MDMA or “ecstasy” can cause chronic urine retention [1]

The incidence of neurogenic bladder is variably dependent on the individual incidences of the primary disease or pathology that gave rise to them. In patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the incidence of neurogenic bladder reaches 20 to 30% within 10 years from diagnosis but for those with detrusor muscle paralysis, 30 to 50% will present in incontinent type of paralysis.

Scientific data have shown that the incidence of neurogenic bladder in Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) is 57% to 83% which manifests as incontinence, urgency and frequency symptoms. In traumatic spinal cord injuries, patients will present with some of bladder dysfunction within the year of the trauma in approximately 81% of cases.

Young adults suffering from spina bifida will show signs of urinary incontinence in up to 61% of cases. The incidence of neurogenic bladder in these cases are dependent on the anatomic location of the lesion and the extent of nerve damage.

Neurogenic bladder may occur when the central nervous system sustains damage in the level of the brain, pons, sacral cord and the peripheral nerves. Nerve damage will lead to dysfunctional voiding condition ranging from mild urinary retention to an overactive bladder (OAB).

Urinary incontinence happens when the bladder and sphincters dysfunction. Urge incontinence occurs with a spastic bladder or an overactive one. Uncontrolled voiding with stress incontinence manifests when neurogenic sphincter control and the detrusor muscle is compromised.

Neurogenic bladder may be prevented only by preventing the primary medical and surgical conditions that cause it. For patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the 10 year interval before signs of neurogenic bladder starts will give enough time for them to do pelvic floor strengthening exercises (Kergel exercises) to improve incontinent problems. Children with neurogenic bladder may be allayed by regular nocturnal emptying of urine to prevent leaks and incontinence [8].

Patients who have undergone abdominal surgery or those with recent trauma should do early ambulation and exercises to prevent neurogenic bladder from ensuing. Neurogenic bladder with increased risk for recurrent UTI has been found to benefit from bladder inoculation with Escherichia coli antigen which lowers the incidence of UTI episodes per year [9]. Studies have revealed that the regular intake of cranberries tablet has been demonstrated to reduce incidence of UTI in a third of all compliant subjects [10].

Neurogenic bladder must be viewed as a complication of a primary disease thus any damage to the nerves (spinal) must be brought to medical attention for the proper diagnosis of impending nerve damage. Those diagnosed with neurogenic bladder must learn to identify signs of early urinary tract infection for prompt treatment and averting complications. Catheter and stoma care should always remain sterile to prevent secondary infections.

1. Beuerle JR, Barrueto F. Neurogenic bladder and chronic urinary retention associated with MDMA abuse. J Med Toxicol. 2008; 4(2):106-8 
2. Romero-Cullerés G, Planells-Romeo I, Martinez de Salazar-Muñoz P, Conejero-Sugrañes J. Urinary infection in patients with neurogenic bladder: patterns of resistance to the most frequent uropathogens. Actas Urol Esp. 2012; 36(8):474-81 
3. Balsara ZR, Ross SS, Dolber PC, Wiener JS, Tang Y, Seed PC. Enhanced susceptibility to urinary tract infection in the spinal cord-injured host with neurogenic bladder. Infect Immun. 2013; 81(8):3018-26 
4. Dillon BE, Seideman CA, Lee D, Greenberg B, Frohman EM, Lemack GE. A surprisingly low prevalence of demonstrable stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women with multiple sclerosis followed at a tertiary neurogenic bladder clinic. J Urol. 2013; 189(3):976-9
5. Kanai A, Zabbarova I, Oefelein M, Radziszewski P, Ikeda Y, Andersson KE. Mechanisms of action of botulinum neurotoxins, β3-adrenergic receptor agonists, and PDE5 inhibitors in modulating detrusor function in overactive bladders: ICI-RS 2011.Neurourol Urodyn. 2012; 31(3):300-8 
6. Stein R, Schröder A, Thüroff JW. Bladder augmentation and urinary diversion in patients with neurogenic bladder: surgical considerations.J Pediatr Urol. 2012; 8(2):153-61 
7. Guillotreau J, Castel-Lacanal E, Roumiguié M, Bordier B, Doumerc N, De Boissezon X, Malavaud B, Marque P, Rischmann P. Prospective study of the impact on quality of life of cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion for neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Neurourol Urodyn. 2011; 30(8):1503-6 
8. Koff SA, Gigax MR, Jayanthi VR. Nocturnal bladder emptying: a simple technique for reversing urinary tract deterioration in children with neurogenic bladder. J Urol. 2005; 174(4 Pt 2):1629-31; discussion 1632 
9. Darouiche RO, Green BG, Donovan WH, Chen D, Schwartz M, Merritt J, Mendez M, Hull RA. Multicenter randomized controlled trial of bacterial interference for prevention of urinary tract infection in patients with neurogenic bladder.Urology. 2011; 78(2):341-6 
10. Hess MJ, Hess PE, Sullivan MR, Nee M, Yalla SV. Evaluation of cranberry tablets for the prevention of urinary tract infections in spinal cord injured patients with neurogenic bladder. Spinal Cord. 2008; 46(9):622-6